UK-based company Cubus Lux confirmed for Daily “Vijesti” that the project for former military resort near Ulcinj is prepared: Cubus Lux will present its concept solution which includes close cooperation with local community, local entrepreneurs, suppliers and business associates. According to initial forecast between 400 and 500 new jobs will be created.
Podgorica – The Company “Cubus Lux plc” from London received with joy the news on invitation of the Government of Montenegro to negotiations regarding a long-term lease of the tourist complex Valdanos and the fact that their bid was evaluated as the best – said the manager for development and expansion sector of Cubus Lux in this region, Milan Kotur.

He remarked that their team was “well-prepared for the tender competition” and that a lot of time was spent working on the project.

– In 2008, when the Government of Montenegro and the Tender Commission launched a tender for tourism development of former military complex Valdanos, we expressed our interest in this location and developed a case study on economic justification which has been used as the groundwork for making the bid. After lengthy data analysis, from Master Plan to the tender conditions and analyzing all available data, we have reached the conclusion that this beautiful and unique location must not be devastated by mass construction but instead natural resources and tourism trends should be in symbiotic relationship here –Kotur emphasized.

Having this in mind, he said that maximum investment will not exceed EUR 225 million and that any higher investment would “definitely have negative impact on the land area, which Cubus Lux as an investor doesn’t support.”

– We advocate that environment should be protected as much as possible so that present and future tourists as well as generations to come will be able to enjoy and appreciate preserved areas. Current policy trends develop in this direction too. Our concept project, made by expert team of architects Ferah- Jelic / Kozaric, is strictly adhered to conditions set in the Master Plan of Montenegro for the subject area while particular attention was paid to environment protection. Planned interventions are focused primarily on already developed areas. Targeted 2.500 beds will be arranged into three elite hotels – Beach Hotel, Golf Hotel and Hotel Gran SPA intended for medical and congress tourism, luxurious villas with swimming pools and a few deluxe apartments. Resort will be open throughout the year for all guests – said the representative of the Cubus Lux.

According to Kotur, the main emphasis of the resort will be on “quality and healthy recreation in unique environment”.

– We intend to achieve a specific quality, authenticity and competitiveness of the resort in cooperation with the local community which is the most familiar with native products and customs. Renowned and distinctive companies work together on this project through partnership organization in order to accomplish high quality and competitiveness – he added.

Sol Melia, a Spanish hotel operator established in Palma on the Mediterranean island Mallorca in 1956, will most probably be a hotel operator in Valdanos. “Sol Melia” manages almost 350 hotels with the capacity of 85.000 rooms in 30 countries on four continents.

As Kotur noted, “Sol Melia” has earlier signed a partnership agreement with “Cubus Lux” in Croatia where it is going to operate future “Olive Island Resort” on the island of Ugljan, next to Zadar. The initial construction works on this resort are scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2009 and this is presently the largest Greenfield investment (worth EUR 140 million) in the tourism of Croatia.

As far as the project Valdanos is concerned, Kotur further mentions cooperation with “Vitality World” which is a part of “Vamed”. For over two decades Vamed AG has been offering their comprehensive know-how in health systems and business management coupled with their expertise in health tourism in Austria and abroad.

– Wide range of services includes project development, consultation, planning, turn-key solutions, business and facility management, and the maintenance of medical facilities at hospitals, health centers, senior residences, nursing homes, and spa resorts, in short, establishments that focus on Medical Wellness, the combination of health tourism and preventive healthcare. Today “Vamed AG” employs 3000 people in 47 countries and it has implemented over 410 projects worldwide – Kotur pointed out.

He added that “Cubus Lux” has recruited distinguished “Robert Trent Jones II” company for golf course architecture and their best architects designed a high-end golf course for Valdanos.

– The air charter broker ‘Aero Studio’ was entrusted with transportation services. ‘Aero Studio’ offers fast, exclusive and quality air transportation services within a small fleet aircraft, comprising regular aircraft but also arranging hydroplane transportation. With the project implementation, development of this branch of transport ensures major steps in development of the resort and other areas in the micro-location – Kotur mentioned.

He emphasizes that “Cubus Lux” runs successful business in Croatia for over five years. The company is focused on investments primarily in the tourism sector – marinas, hotel resorts, golf, congress and medical tourism and it is the concessionaire of the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Croatia for casinos.

By Z.V.

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